Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The process explains that how one type of desert known as a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, it is crystal clear that there are 7 stages involved in this process. Starting from winds approch coast and terminating with dry winds reach inland areas. Every step is as much important as without it, whole process will be distubed.

Beginning from winds approch to coast by sea and it is pushed upwards. In the third step, there is rise in moist air and it cools. After this step, clouds will be formed and rain falls. In the penultimate step, dry air continues over mountain and this step go downwards. In last step, dry winds reach inland areas and rain-shadow dessert is formed. There is thousands of kilometres distance between coast and inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to summarise the diagram illustrating the formation of a rain-shadow desert, identifying the main stages from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. However, there are significant limitations. Most notably, the response falls short of the minimum length requirement of 150 words, containing only 130 words, which incurs a direct penalty on Task Achievement. Furthermore, the overview and body paragraphs lack sufficient development and academic tone. While the chronological sequence is loosely followed, the reporting of details is overly simplistic and relies heavily on repeating phrases from the prompt (e.g., 'winds approach coast', 'dry winds reach inland areas') without sufficient rephrasing or deep analysis of the geographic mechanics shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is divided into three short paragraphs, attempting a basic structure with an introduction, an overview, and body details. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped, and the overall progression is disjointed. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and repetitive manner, such as 'Beginning from', 'In the third step', and 'In last step'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, for instance, writing 'this step go downwards' where it is unclear what 'this step' refers to. While there is a discernible linear progression matching the numbered steps in the diagram, the lack of sophisticated cohesive links and poor paragraph control keep this criterion at a band 5.0 level.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The student's vocabulary range is limited and inadequate for an academic task. There is heavy reliance on basic, repetitive words and direct lifting from the prompt, such as 'winds approach coast', 'rain-shadow desert', and 'inland areas'. Furthermore, there are several lexical errors and awkward word choices, including spelling mistakes like 'approch' instead of 'approach' and 'distubed' instead of 'disturbed', as well as a non-standard noun form 'dessert' instead of 'desert'. Less common lexical items are rarely attempted, and control over word formation and collocation is weak, resulting in restricted communicative flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The writing demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and awkward clause constructions. There are frequent and noticeable grammatical errors throughout the response. For example, the opening sentence contains a direct question-word error: 'The process explains that how one type of desert...'. Other structural errors include subject-verb agreement issues and missing articles or prepositions, such as 'approch to coast by sea' and 'this step go downwards'. Complex structures are rarely attempted, and when they are, they are typically faulty. These frequent errors cause occasional difficulty for the reader.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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